Newsletter no. 4 of the Newport Mon. Hebrew Congregation dated “Tishri 5727 Sept 1966”, bringing readers “the local news of our Congregation”. The editorial states that “Our Executive and Council members have had a full year of sincere effort to the needs and welfare of our important congregation. As a town, Newport Jewry can be proud of all its communal activities.” Younger men and women are needed “to take an active interest in synagogue affairs”.
Readers are wished a happy and prosperous New Year.

Articles cover:
• a request from the minister (Rev R Fisher) to refrain from conversation during the High Festival Services;
• a plea to attend synagogue on Shabbos as well as during Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur;
• a Ladies' Guild social event (refreshments, bingo and card games) to raise money for the Minister’s car;
• a visit to see the Dead Sea Scrolls at the National Museum of Wales in Cardiff;
• notices of marriage, illness, gifts to the synagogue, condolences and tombstone consecration;
• Ladies' Guild activities raising funds for Llanhennock Cheshire Home, Jewish Women’s Week, Cardiff Jewish Old Age Home, the Minister’s car and Jewish Child’s Day;
• Children’s Sabbath services, educational successes, and an inspection of the chedar; and
• “News in brief” covering a memorial service, a visit from Machen Mon., and visits to the sick at St Cadoc’s Hospital.

Newport Monmouthshire Hebrew Congregation was founded in 1859 by orthodox Jews meeting at a temporary synagogue in Llanarth Street. A synagogue at Francis Street was opened in 1869 and consecrated by the Chief Rabbi Dr Herman Adler in 1871. In 1934 the congregation moved to the Nathan Harris Memorial Hall in Queen’s Hill which was converted to a synagogue. In 1997 this synagogue was closed, and the congregation moved to the Prayer House by the Jewish Burial Ground on Risca Road. Within 20 years the congregation had dwindled to a few members able to attend and this too had ceased to hold services.

Sources:
- “History of our Shul. The First Hundred Years", published by Newport Congregation in 1959;
- Oral history interviews with members of the Newport Mon Hebrew Congregation, recorded in 2018 by JHASW.

Depository: Gwent Archives.